A job boycott has shut down most of Zimbabwe as discontent deepens over increasing economic hardships there.

Streets in the capital, Harare, and other cities were deserted on Wednesday as workers, including teachers and doctors, heeded the call by activists on social media with the hashtag #?ShutDownZimbabwe2016.

The internet was down for the greater part of Wednesday morning.

Police detained several journalists and forced them to delete pictures of skirmishes between police and Harare residents.

Acts of defiance and clashes with the police are rare in Zimbabwe, but protests surged in recent weeks over growing economic hardship and alleged government mismanagement.

Government workers who are yet to receive their June salaries boycotted work on Tuesday.